Transporting frags home from Vacation

hig789 · Jun 22, 2015

Haha. I guess that would work too.

big blue · Jun 22, 2015

But coming from costs Rica? And a few times a year? You very well may be on a frequent flyer list and I'm sure they are looking for something a little different than corals

evolved · Jun 23, 2015

Chris-tico said:
and what about international vacation. for example. i live in Costa Rica. i go to USA like twice a year.
i'`ve never buy frags. but this could help me for my next vacations

That's a rather serious question. You would need a CITES permit if the species is on their list, and most all corals in the trade are. And that's expensive, but failure to do such and getting caught is FAR more expensive (plus potential jail time).

reptileguy112 · Jun 23, 2015

Im in the same situation but a plane flight home. Can I hide a small container of liquid with the corals in it on a plane?

JDavis · Jun 23, 2015

hig789 said:
We are heading to Destin the week after next and I had planned on bringing some stuff back since our LFS pretty well sucks. It is a 9 hour drive and I plan on buying them right before we leave. We are driving at night so the kiddos can sleep.

Any tips to make it easier on the frags? Planed on taking a cooler to put them in. Do I need a heater of some sort to keep them warm?

My Dad lives in on Okaloosa Island... I'm in TX. I bring home stuff every year. Cooler will be fine. Not sure where all the LFS are over there.. honestly figured there would be more. I usually hit up Matt's Coral Connection the morning I head home. Good luck with your hunt!

evolved · Jun 23, 2015

reptileguy112 said:
Im in the same situation but a plane flight home. Can I hide a small container of liquid with the corals in it on a plane?

If you're traveling within the states you can put corals in your checked luggage. Trying to "hide" anything is ill-advised.

If it's just softies you can wrap them in a damp paper towel and have them in your carry on bag.

mic209 · Jun 23, 2015

reptileguy112 said:
Im in the same situation but a plane flight home. Can I hide a small container of liquid with the corals in it on a plane?

Flying within the U.S. with corals is no problem. I've done it a few times. Just don't let your airline know that you have corals or fish, they might try to charge you more or not let you bring them on at all. I always carried my corals on, going through TSA was a breeze, just let them know what you have and they'll check the bags for the live goods and then swab them for explosives. There's nothing that covers corals in the TSA rule book, but they do talk about live fish and I always have the page that talks about live fish ready on my phone just in case they weren't going to play nice. And with live fish you can have more than the allowed amount of liquid.

hig789 · Jun 23, 2015

mic209 said:
Flying within the U.S. with corals is no problem. I've done it a few times. Just don't let your airline know that you have corals or fish, they might try to charge you more or not let you bring them on at all. I always carried my corals on, going through TSA was a breeze, just let them know what you have and they'll check the bags for the live goods and then swab them for explosives. There's nothing that covers corals in the TSA rule book, but they do talk about live fish and I always have the page that talks about live fish ready on my phone just in case they weren't going to play nice. And with live fish you can have more than the allowed amount of liquid.

So you are saying that they count the corals as fish and you can have them in a bag of water? Can't believe a over zealous worker hasn't given you a hard time about them yet.

evolved · Jun 23, 2015

mic209 said:
Just don't let your airline know that you have corals or fish, they might try to charge you more or not let you bring them on at all. I always carried my corals on, going through TSA was a breeze

Right; TSA doesn't care and it's not against their rules, but some airlines won't be so accommodating on it. Best to be honest with TSA but make no mention to the airline.

evolved · Jun 23, 2015

hig789 said:
So you are saying that they count the corals as fish and you can have them in a bag of water?

No, they don't count the corals as anything. You can have them in a bag of water in your checked bag (not carry on).

hig789 · Jun 23, 2015

JDavis said:
My Dad lives in on Okaloosa Island... I'm in TX. I bring home stuff every year. Cooler will be fine. Not sure where all the LFS are over there.. honestly figured there would be more. I usually hit up Matt's Coral Connection the morning I head home. Good luck with your hunt!

Don't think I can wait till the day we go home. Haha I'm hoping I can go the day we get there and pick some stuff out, go a head and pay for it and have them hold it till the day we go home. Might not work out like that though, might just have to wait. I was just looking in the yellow pages. Found Elite Aquatics of NWF, Matts Coral Connection, and Bluewater Zoo Exotic Aquariums so far. Those are just in Ft Walton.

hig789 · Jun 23, 2015

evolved said:
No, they don't count the corals as anything. You can have them in a bag of water in your checked bag (not carry on).

Ah. I thought you were talking about your carry on.

evolved · Jun 23, 2015

hig789 said:
Ah. I thought you were talking about your carry on.

Fish can, provided you follow the rules.

mic209 · Jun 23, 2015

evolved said:
No, they don't count the corals as anything. You can have them in a bag of water in your checked bag (not carry on).

hig789 said:
Ah. I thought you were talking about your carry on.

I've always done carry on, never checked in. One time I did have a fish along with all my corals and a clam. The other 2 times I didn't have fish and TSA did not have a problem. I just have the TSA rule about fish ready on my phone, so I have something to back my argument if needed. I know coral isn't fish, but it's the next closest thing in the TSA rules.

evolved said:
Fish can, provided you follow the rules.

reptileguy112 · Jun 23, 2015

Ok, is there a water limit for a CARRY ON? I have some of those plastic bags for fish and it will be at least a day till they are in a tank unless I start a nano while im in iowa and get them before I leave. I could just pick up some of dr.tims one and only.

mrjlopez731 · Jun 24, 2015

reptileguy112 said:
Ok, is there a water limit for a CARRY ON? I have some of those plastic bags for fish and it will be at least a day till they are in a tank unless I start a nano while im in iowa and get them before I leave. I could just pick up some of dr.tims one and only.

Yes there is a limit, I believe it's no more then 3 oz per plastic bag for any carry on. You can try to check it in and place it in a box and mark it, handle with care live stock inside and add form to the inside but it does not mean they will treat it that way. You can even call your flight carrier and asks them what you can try to do. Good luck

reptileguy112 · Jun 24, 2015

Ok, thanks!

evolved · Jun 24, 2015

reptileguy112 said:
Ok, is there a water limit for a CARRY ON?

Sure; then it's subject to TSA's 3-1-1 rule (http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-liquids-rule)
But that's for all your liquids per traveler for carry on, and it all needs to fit within a sealed 1 quart bag.

mrjlopez731 said:
I believe it's no more then 3 oz per plastic bag for any carry on

It's 100ml technically, which is a little more (3.38oz).

mic209 · Jun 25, 2015

mrjlopez731 said:
Yes there is a limit, I believe it's no more then 3 oz per plastic bag for any carry on. You can try to check it in and place it in a box and mark it, handle with care live stock inside and add form to the inside but it does not mean they will treat it that way. You can even call your flight carrier and asks them what you can try to do. Good luck

There are exceptions to the 3oz rule, baby formula being one and live fish the other.

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_results.aspx?search=live fish

kannon50 · Aug 31, 2015

Cant decide if i want to risk the luggage handlers with a checked bag or risk the TSA. ..... also my plane doesnt leave till monday morning. Assuming all venders i buy from will allow sunday collection how do suggest i keep them alive in my room over night?